Combination device to launch non-lethal projectiles using a detachable, disposable container

ABSTRACT

A combination of a launcher and at least one disposable container. The disposable container contains at least one cylinder loaded with a projectile, propellant, and igniter. It snaps into place into a launcher base. The launcher base has a trigger to ignite the propellant igniter, hence, fire the projectile down a cylinder toward a target. The launcher base may be concealed in a tool or other device or it can resemble a grip, trigger, and butt of a standard weapon.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This invention was described in my provisional patent application No. 60/282,091, accorded a filing date of Apr. 5, 2001.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates generally to devices for launching non-lethal projectiles. More specifically, this relates to a system, apparatus, and method that uses detachable disposable containers pre-loaded with a non-lethal projectile and a propellant and an igniter. The disposable pre-loaded containers may be used with a variety of launcher apparatus and may be easily disguised or concealed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] For several decades, both the law enforcement community and the military have had a need for a weapon that will knockdown or disable an opponent or arrestee, but not kill him under ordinary circumstances. This type of force is often called “less lethal”. This term recognizes that any force, if applied improperly or to a person unusually susceptible, could be lethal in nature. In this application we will use the term “non-lethal” to apply to a weapon or device that, if used properly on a person of ordinary physical condition and susceptibility, will not be lethal. That, however, does not mean that under any circumstances or when applied to any person, the weapon will always have non-lethal results. Consequently, a variety of devices have been devised to meet the need for a non-lethal weapon. One type of device uses an electrical shock. This can either be applied directly to the person, or there are devices that project wires with electrodes at the end of the wires which, when they strike a person against whom the device is employed, a charge passes through the wires into the electrodes and into the body of the person, disabling him. A second type of device uses a chemical. Typically, this is some kind of irritating chemical that may cause some sort of reaction in the person against whom the device is employed. These include such things as pepper sprays, tear gas, or MACE. There is a third type of device that uses some sort of propellant to launch a projectile. Broadly speaking this would include fire hoses or water cannon, but also includes such guns that launch a bean bag or rubber bullet. Water cannon use something with a relatively large mass, water, launched at a relatively low velocity to knock a person down, but ordinarily it does not produce any lethal result. As the size of the projectile is reduced, a careful balance must be struck between the velocity of the projectile, its mass, and its hardness. If a relatively small projectile like the size of a ball bearing is projected at a high enough velocity to result in a sufficient impact to be disabling, then it is likely to penetrate the body with lethal results.

[0004] Another type of traditional non-lethal force can be applied by such things as billy clubs, batons, and similar riot control gear. A problem with these kinds of devices is that the officer must be within relatively close range to apply force. That is, the officer must be close enough to actually strike a blow with the club in order to be effective.

[0005] Moreover, a problem that arises in law enforcement applications is that an officer responding, for example, to a domestic disturbance may not be aware of whether non-lethal force will need to be employed. The officer typically carries with him radios, regular weapons, tools like flashlights, as well as pens, papers, pencils and the like, and a billy club. The need to employ or to project a non-lethal force at a distance may arise very quickly. The officer can hardly be expected to load or reload his sidearm with non-lethal projectiles. Ideally, the non-lethal projectile launcher should be light, easily concealed and quickly and readily employed as required.

[0006] Ludaesher et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,559 proposes an attachment to a firearm which will dispense chemical fluid such as tear gas or pepper gas. The canister is attached to the firearm by a bracket and is oriented along the direction of the firearm barrel. The officer may use the device by using a plunger button adjacent to the trigger guard. Saxby US Publication #200125584 proposes a non-lethal projectile that includes an outer casing with a plurality of balls contained within the casing. The outer casing deforms in the gun barrel, but regains its shape when it exits the gun barrel. Cuadros, U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,809 proposes a dedicated launcher mechanism which fires a projectile which increases in size during flight or impact. This spreads the force over a larger area on the target to provide a better knockdown effect without body penetration. A type of non-lethal ammunition is sold in the marketplace under the brand name of “Thumper”. This “Thumper” ammunition is a soft nosed plastic projectile fired from a conventional emergency flare, no breech launcher. The “Thumper” ammunition does not use a barrel assembly from the launcher, rather, the soft nosed projectile in the “Thumper” is crimped onto the ammunition. It is believed that this soft nosed plastic projectile used in a “Thumper” is highly inaccurate. Donnard, U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,147 discloses an underwater ammunition which uses a long thin dart-like projectile sealed within the ammunition casing. When the propellant is ignited, it pushes a piston forward forcing the dart-like projectile out the sealed end of the ammunition. The ammunition is sealed to prevent leakage of water into the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Despite this earlier work, there is still a need for a simple, easily operated combination launcher and disposable container to launch a non-lethal projectile. In this invention the launcher is a base to hold and ignite the disposable container. The disposable container can be shaped like a conventional weapon barrel, pre-loaded with propellant, igniter, and projectile. The pre-loaded container is simply placed in the base launcher which has means for triggering the pre-loaded igniter. When triggered, the igniter causes the propellant to react in a way that produces a force on the projectile to force it down a barrel in the disposable container and toward the target. The projectile can be any convenient non-lethal projectile such as a rubber bullet, a bean bag, or similar non-bullet projectile. The launcher is loaded from the front and is easily concealed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1A shows in cut-a-way a single barrel container embodiment with a launcher base of this invention for mounting in the butt of a flashlight.

[0009]FIG. 1B shows the device assembled for use in a flashlight.

[0010]FIG. 1C shows the device in a police baton.

[0011]FIG. 2A shows a hand-held “pistol” embodiment with a potentially multi-cylinder disposable container mounted in a pistol-like launcher base.

[0012]FIG. 2B shows the multi-cylinder disposable container seen from the front.

[0013]FIG. 3 discloses a shoulder-mounted embodiment of the disposable container/launcher device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1A shows in cut-a-way the non-lethal, disposable container and launcher (5) in an exploded view as it might be mounted in the butt of a flashlight (10). This embodiment illustrates one of many ways the launcher (50) may be made part of an existing tool or device. In FIG. 1A the flashlight (10) is shown in dotted lines because it is not part of the invention. Within the container of the flashlight (10) is a battery (12). Typically, a law enforcement officer will carry a multi-battery flashlight attached or clipped to his belt. At one end of the flashlight (10) is a reflector and lamp (14) seen in FIG. 1B. At the other end of the flashlight (10) there is a screw cap (not shown) with a spring which seals the battery (12) within the flashlight (10). Replacing the screw cap on the end of the flashlight (10) is the launcher (50). In this embodiment the launcher (50) is a small, generally cylindrically-shaped device which has screw threads (52) and a spring (54) so that the screw threads (52) thread into the receptacle threads (not shown) on the flashlight (10) with the spring (54) pressing against the battery (12) completing the electrical connection for the operation of the flashlight (10). For a flashlight use, the launcher (50) will be smaller than the reflector and bulb end (14) of the flashlight (10), but of a generally similar size and shape. Shown within the launcher (50) is a bore (56). The bore (56) is designed to receive the disposable container (100). The launcher (50) is shown with a laser (60) powered by a battery (64) which can be used as a sighting device for the non-lethal projectile (110). The disposable container (100) slides within the bore (56) and clicks into place. Here, the disposable container (100) is generally a cylinder (102) shape. For most applications, that will be the shape of the disposable container (100) but, for reasons of concealment or camouflage, other shapes could be used. The disposable container (100) could have more than one cylinder (102) therein. A variety of technologies could be employed to fix the disposable container (100) within the bore (56) in the launcher (50). These could include lugs on the base of the disposable container (100) with matching grooves or recesses in the bore (56). At the bottom of the launcher (50) is a trigger (70) mechanically connected to a firing pin (74) by a trigger connection (72). Pre-loaded within the disposable container (100) is an igniter, here shown as a percussive cap (130) which ignites pre-loaded propellant (120) to propel the non-lethal projectile (110) down the cylinder (102) to a target. The propellant (120) will ordinarily be a gun powder-type of explosive propellant which is ignited by the percussive cap (130), which itself ignites when struck by the firing pin (74). The firing pin (74) uses a spring (76) to force the firing pin (74) forward to strike the percussive cap (130) to ignite the propellant (120). The firing pin (74) is cocked by a spring (82) loaded plunger (80) which is cocked as the disposable container (100) is loaded into the bore (56). It will be readily appreciated by one of skill in the art the various triggering, cocking, and firing pin mechanisms are more a matter of a convenience for the designer than a matter of necessity in the invention. For example, an electrical triggering mechanism could be used instead of the mechanical firing pin (74) shown in FIG. 1A. Obviously, the device needs a mechanism that when triggered will fire the non-lethal projectile (110) from the disposable container (100), but exactly how that is accomplished is a matter of design choice.

[0015] Most conventional single shot weapons load from the breach. For example, a single shot shotgun will ordinarily have a latch which breaks the weapon open so that a shotgun shell may be loaded in the breach end of the barrel. The barrel snaps back into place so that the weapon is ready for firing. That is in contrast to this invention where the disposable container (100) serves the purpose not only as the ammunition that is loaded into a single shot weapon, but also as the barrel of the single shot weapon. When the disposable container and launcher (5) of this invention is built into a pre-existing device like a flashlight (seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B), a police baton (seen in FIG. 1C), or some other device breach loading is both impractical and makes more difficult the concealment of the launcher (50) in the pre-existing device. Moreover, by inserting the disposable container (100) into the launcher (50) from the front serves the double purpose of not only loading but cocking the firing pin (74) as seen in FIG. 1A. Where the concealment is of great value the trigger (70) itself could be recessed or concealed until the disposable container (100) is loaded into the launcher (50), which could then “cock” the trigger (70), as well as the firing pin (74) as is shown in FIG. 1A. The front loading design means the launcher (50) can be made as a one piece simple device without latches or other ways to break open the launcher (50) for loading as is required in a conventional single shot shotgun, tear gas launcher, flare gun, or such similar devices.

[0016] In an ordinary hand gun or rifle, the barrel and firing chamber must be strong enough to stand considerable forces created by the large powder charge necessary to propel a heavy lead or other metal projectile through the barrel down the rifling to be accurate over matter of sometimes hundreds of yards and lethal at that same distance. These same requirements of strength are not necessary for the current invention. Here, the disposable container (100) need not be made with the kind of strength that a barrel and firing chamber would have in an ordinary pistol or rifle. Here, the non-lethal projectile (110) is apt to be much lighter than a metal or lead projectile of the same size, hence, not nearly as much propellant (120) is required. Consequently, the same kinds of pressure will not be developed within the disposable container (100) or within the launcher (50) as would be the case in the firing chamber and barrel of a rifle or pistol.

[0017] Shown in FIG. 1B is the non-lethal, disposable container and launcher (5) in an exploded view mounted in the butt end of a flashlight (10). Here, the launcher (50) will simply be screwed onto the end of a flashlight (10) as shown by the arrow and be ready for use. When the need arises for subduing an unruly suspect, an enraged spouse in a domestic disturbance, or other street disturbances, the officer need only take one of the disposable containers (100), load it into the launcher (50), as shown by the arrow, use the laser aiming device (60) and the trigger (70) to launch the projectile (110) to project non-lethal force against a suspect many feet away. The launcher (50) will remain in place on the end of the flashlight (10), will be unobtrusive, and will add little extra weight or equipment to a police officer's belt. A carrying case on a belt can contain a small pack of the disposable containers (100), so that if repeated shots are required, it will be a simple matter of removing one disposable container (100) and placing another in place. The act of reloading will be no more difficult than reloading any single shot weapon. However, here, the single shot is not a cartridge, but rather the entire container (100). The compact and uncomplicated nature of the launcher (50) makes it very unobtrusive and can be used where it is necessary for concealment of the weapon. For example, undercover officers, airport or airplane security personnel may have a need for a readily available, non-lethal weapon which does not appear to be a weapon. The launcher (50) could be concealed in the bottom of a metal coffee cup or otherwise disguised as part of some ordinary innocuous piece of equipment. FIG. 1C shows the launcher (50) mounted in a police baton (300). Here, the disposable container (100) is shown mounted within the launcher (50) and ready for launching by using the trigger (70). The launcher (50) will have little effect on the weight or balance of the police baton (300), but will enable the police baton (300) to use a disposable container (100) to project non-lethal force at a considerable distance from the officer when required. As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C, the disposable container (100) has a single load. However, multiple loads could be packed within the disposable container (100). When ignited the non-lethal projectile (110) first travels down a length of a cylinder (102). Ordinarily the cylinder (102) will be at least twice the length of the non-lethal projectile (110). This assures better accuracy of the non-lethal projectile (110) as well as increasing the efficiency of the propellant (120) in accelerating the non-lethal projectile (110).

[0018]FIG. 2A shows the non-lethal disposable container and launcher (5) in a different embodiment. Here, the launcher (50) is built into a mechanism resembling the butt and trigger part of a pistol. The launcher (50) has a trigger (70) and trigger guard (71) as part of the pistol-like mechanism. There is a grip (400), which will be held in the conventional manner by a user. Here, the disposable container (100) may be a large cylindrical shape. It will be appreciated that multiple cylinders (102), each pre-loaded with a non-lethal projectile (110), propellant (120), and percussive cap (130) could be mounted within the larger disposable container (100) as shown in FIG. 2B. It will be readily appreciated that the disposable container (100) will snap into place in the bore (56) using the connector (150), which is held in place in the launcher (50) by any conventional means. Here, the disposable container (100) with multiple cylinders (102) therein serves a purpose similar to bullet chambers in a standard revolver (not shown) and the barrel (not shown) of a standard revolver. Thus, the disposable container (100) could have multiple individual cylinders (102) bundled therein and spaced around the periphery of the disposable container (100) as shown in FIG. 2B. As the trigger (70) is pulled a mechanism (not shown) would rotate cylinders (102) spaced around the larger disposable container (100) into place so that the percussive cap (130) will be hit by the firing pin (74) igniting the propellant (120). Successive non-lethal projectile (110) could be launched until each cylinder (102) was fired, thus, until the deposable container (100) is empty. Then the disposable container (100) can be replaced with fresh, fully loaded disposable container (100). It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that this disposable container (100) could also have one large cylinder (102) with one percussive cap (130) with either multiple load of non-lethal projectiles (110) to be fired at one time, or one larger non-lethal projectile (110). FIG. 2B shows from the front the disposable container (100) with multiple cylinders (102) mounted therein. Each cylinder (102) will be pre-loaded with a separate non-lethal projectile (110), a propellant load (120) and a percussive cap (130). This allows the user to fire successive non-lethal projectiles (110) until the disposable container (100) is empty where it can quickly be exchanged for a loaded disposable container (100). When necessary, a disposable container (100) can be quickly loaded into place in the bore (56) on the launcher (50) enabling the owner to project non-lethal force accurately and quickly.

[0019] It is believed the embodiment of the non-lethal, disposable container and projectile launcher (5) shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B will find its widest application in crowd control or prison applications. Here, there is little need to conceal the non-lethal, disposable container and projectile launcher (5). In a prison or riot setting, a lethal weapon could be captured by an inmate. Then the lethal weapon would be a threat to guards or police. Here, the non-lethal, disposable container and projectile launcher (5) is non-lethal and can be used only once. It cannot be reloaded by an inmate, hence, carries minimum threat to guards or police if captured by a prisoner or rioter.

[0020]FIG. 3 shows a non-lethal disposable container and launcher (5) in a third embodiment. Here, the launcher (50) is mounted in a mechanism that resembles the shoulder mount, trigger, trigger guard and lock portion of a single shot rifle or shotgun. There is a trigger (70), and a shoulder stock (200). As before, the disposable container (100) is mounted into place by inserting the disposable container (100) into a bore (56) in the launcher (50) where it locks into place using any convenient means. The trigger (70) fires at least one non-lethal projectile (110) from the disposable container (100). As with the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, there could be multiple cylinders (102), hence multiple shots within the disposable container (100) or it could be a single load. The use of shoulder-mounted launcher permits a larger disposable container (100) to launch a larger number of non-lethal projectiles (110) or a single large non-lethal projectile (110) from the disposable container (100).

[0021] Here, the disposable container and projectile launcher (5) have many advantages over non-lethal projectile weapon rounds, which are frequently used in lieu of standard ammunition in a standard lethal weapon like a pistol, rifle or shotgun, First, it obviates the need for a lethal weapon. Hence, it can be safely carried into volatile situations without the fear associated with a lethal weapon that the weapon could be turned on the officer or guard. Second, the disposable container (100) is pre-loaded, once fired, and is useless and discarded. Third, this invention recognizes that to fire a non-lethal projectile (110) at appropriate velocities does not require the degree of strength and engineering in a launcher (50) that is required in a lethal weapon that fires high energy lethal ammo. Consequently, the launcher (50) can be made more simply and less expensively than would an equivalent lethal weapon. The length of the cylinder (102), when compared with the length of the non-lethal projectile (110), permits greater accuracy than “Thumper” types of non-lethal ammunition. Further, the launcher (50) may be easily concealed and does not look like a standard weapon. It is unlikely to be recognized as such, which can be an important advantage in undercover law enforcement applications. It will be readily appreciated by one of skill in the art that the various locking, triggering, and advancing mechanisms that may be used in the launcher (50) for igniting a load within the disposable container (100) are a matter of choice to one of skill in the art. It will be readily appreciated by one of skill in the art that there can be other departures from the design choices made in the preferred embodiment described above, and that what is described above is not by way of limitation but by way of description. The only limitations are contained in the claims, which follow. 

I claim:
 1. A combination of a launcher and a disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile comprising: (a) a generally elongated disposable container loaded with at least one non-lethal projectile, propellant, and propellant igniter; (b) a launcher base having a bore and a means for removably receiving said disposable container and holding it in place in said bore in said launcher base; (c) said launcher base having a means for triggering said propellant igniter in said disposable container.
 2. A combination of a launcher and a disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 1 wherein said projectile is constructed of a resilient, deformable material whereby said projectile is non-lethal in its effects when discharged from said disposable container by said propellant.
 3. A combination of a launcher and a disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 2 wherein said launcher is sized and shaped in a particular fashion to be concealed as part of a particular item whereby, to an outside observer, said launcher would not appear to be capable of launching a non-lethal projectile.
 4. A combination of a launcher and a disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 3 wherein said bore is open at a first end a nd closed at a second end and said disposable container is loaded into said launcher by inserting into said first open end of said bore.
 5. A combination of a launcher and a disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 4 wherein said launcher base is sized and shaped in a particular fashion to replace a end cap on a particular flashlight.
 6. A combination of a launcher and a disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 4 wherein said launcher base is incorporated in a police baton type club.
 7. A combination of a launcher and a disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 2 wherein said disposable container contains more than one projectile, more than one propellant, and more than one propellant igniter whereby said launcher base may be used to successively trigger said propellant igniter so that more than one non-lethal projectile may be launched from said launcher before there is a need to remove said disposable container from said launcher base.
 8. A combination of a launcher and a disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 7 wherein said launcher base is constructed with a pistol grip, trigger, and hammer.
 9. A combination of a launcher and a disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 7 wherein said launcher base has a butt for shoulder mounting of said launcher base.
 10. A combination of a concealable launcher and a disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile comprising: (a) a launcher base of a particular size and shape, said launcher base having a bore therein and said particular size and shape of said launcher base is constrained to fit within a pre-existing particular item; (b) a generally elongated, disposable container having at least one cylinder loaded with at least one non-lethal projectile, propellant, and propellant igniter; (c) in said first bore in said launcher base, a means for removably receiving said disposable container and holding it in place in said first bore in said launcher base; (d) a means for triggering said propellant igniter in said disposable container, said means for triggering located in said launcher base whereby said launcher base is constrained to fit within a particular item in a manner that conceals the function of said launcher base, so that said disposable container may be loaded into said first bore in said launcher base and said launcher base within a particular item can launch a non-lethal projectile.
 11. A combination of a concealable launcher and at least one disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 10 wherein said particular item is a flashlight.
 12. A combination of a concealable launcher and at least one disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 10 wherein said particular item is a police baton.
 13. A combination of a concealable launcher and at least one disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 10 wherein said at least one cylinder, said at least one non-lethal projectile, propellant, and propellant igniter is pre-loaded within said at least one cylinder with said at least one cylinder having a length twice as long as said at least one pre-loaded non-lethal projectile.
 14. A combination of a concealable launcher and at least one disposable container for launching a non-lethal projectile of claim 13 wherein said bore has a first open end and a second closed end and said disposable container is loaded into said launcher base by inserting said disposable container into said first open end of said first bore in said launcher base.
 15. A method for firing at least one non-lethal projectile comprising: (a) pre-loading a disposable container with at least one non-lethal projectile, propellant, and propellant igniter; (b) inserting said disposable container into a launcher base through a first bore in said launcher base; (c) using a trigger in said launcher base to ignite said propellant igniter and said propellant to propel said at least one non-lethal projectile from said disposable container.
 16. A method for firing at least one non-lethal projectile further comprising steps of forming said launcher base to be a particular size and shape, said particular size and shape of said launcher base constrained to fit within a pre-existing particular item whereby said launcher base becomes a part of said pre-existing particular item.
 17. A method for firing at least one non-lethal projectile of claim 16 wherein said disposable container is formed with a cylinder having a length at least twice a length of said at least one preloaded non-lethal projectile.
 18. A method for firing at least one non-lethal projectile of claim 17 wherein said launcher base is sized and shaped to replace an end cap on a flashlight.
 19. A method for firing at least one non-lethal projectile of claim 17 wherein said launcher base is sized and shaped to be incorporated as part of a police baton type club. 